An inside look at DWP's proposed staging changes and what UK pension schemes need to do next #
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Chris Curry, Principal of the Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) at the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS), joins Equisoft's Nick Meredith and David Poynton to break down the Department for Work and Pensions' (DWP) proposed changes to pension scheme staging deadlines. The panel unpacks what a shift from fixed staging dates to a single connection deadline with non-statutory guidance dates could mean for pension schemes, integrated service providers (ISPs) and third-party administrators (TPAs) — and shares the practical preparation work every organisation can progress now, regardless of when the final deadline lands.
Our guest panelists
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Chris CurryPrincipal, Pensions Dashboards Programme | Money and Pensions Service (MaPS)
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Nick MeredithProduct Director, Europe | Equisoft
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David PoyntonProduct Manager, Pension Fusion | Equisoft
Session agenda #
- PDP update: progress since the reset and what the written ministerial statement means for your organisation
- DWP's proposed policy shift: moving from staged deadlines to a single connection date with non-statutory guidance dates
- Panel discussion: benefits and risks of the proposed approach for pension schemes, ISPs and TPAs
- Live audience polling and Q&A on the consultation and what happens next
What you'll learn #
- Assess your exposure: whether your organisation — scheme, ISP or TPA — is more or less exposed to the risk of a late-connection bow wave under a flexible deadline.
- Weigh the trade-offs: a framework for deciding whether to stage at your guidance date or wait, based on the benefits and risks industry peers raised on the panel.
- Spot the hidden costs: where budget risk is most likely to show up if a project is delayed, mothballed, or staffed up and down more than once.
- Prioritise your prep work: which parts of PDP readiness — data quality, matching criteria, connection method — don't depend on a connection date at all, so you can keep moving regardless of the outcome.
- Read the regulatory signals: what the panel expects from TPR and the FCA if staging shifts from a mandated deadline to non-statutory guidance.
About our expert speakers #
Chris Curry #
"It's more important to get pensions dashboards right, both for consumers and for the industry, than it is to do them quickly."
Chris Curry has led the Pensions Dashboards Programme (PDP) at MaPS since 2019, on a part-time basis, while continuing to serve as Director of the Pensions Policy Institute (PPI). He is responsible for the design and delivery of the digital architecture that allows individuals to view all of their pension information — including their State Pension — securely in one place.
Nick Meredith #
"I think fundamentally people understand the clarity of a fixed deadline date."
Nick has worked for over 20 years developing a range of complex software applications from small specialist solutions to enterprise-wide policy administration systems. He combines in-depth expertise in a wide range of technologies with an excellent grasp of the practicalities of financial services operations.
David Poynton #
"It's still tight timelines for people to get fully prepared and ready to make their data available for members to find their pensions."
David joined Equisoft in 2020 as a Business Analyst, moving into a Product Manager role in 2022 for Equisoft's pension-focused products, including Equisoft/pay and Pension Fusion. A member of the PDP's advisory group, he works closely with schemes and providers migrating onto Pension Fusion and advises on the operational changes needed to stay compliant as the programme evolves.
Deepen your knowledge: Pensions Dashboards Programme #
- The Roadmap to Pensions Dashboards Programme Readiness — A whitepaper from David Poynton on preparing for PDP connection, including data readiness, matching criteria and project timelines.
- Pensions Dashboards Programme: Keep Calm and Carry On — The earlier Accelerate session in this series, covering the initial staging timetable before the March reset.
- Equisoft's David Poynton appointed to Pensions Dashboards advisory group — Background on David's role advising PDP on industry-wide dashboard delivery issues.
- Pension Fusion go-live signals pensions dashboards technology is a reality — How Equisoft and Lumera's Pension Fusion completed the first full end-to-end PDP connection journey.
- Pension Fusion: Pensions Dashboards ISP for the UK — An overview of Equisoft's Integrated Service Provider (ISP) solution for connecting schemes to the Pensions Dashboards Programme.